Order

Perciformes

  Class

Actinopterygii

No. in FishBase

Genera : 41 | Species : 351 Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes

  Environment

Fresh : Yes | Brackish : Yes | Marine : Yes

  Division

Marine

  Aquarium

many

  First Fossil Record

lower   Tertiary   lower   Eocene

  Remark

Subfamilies: Amioidinae Fraser & Mabuchi, 2014; Apogoninae Günther, 1859; Paxtoninae Fraser & Mabuchi, 2014; Pseudamiinae Smith, 1954. See type genus for diagnostic characters (Ref. 96888). Distribution: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Some in brackish water; some (e.g. Glossamia) in streams (tropical Pacific Islands) (Ref. 7463). Tropical and subtropical, near shore to about a depth of 300 m. Most in coral or rocky reefs, and still some inhabit seagrass and coralline algal meadows, soft-bottom communities estuaries and lowland freshwater of warm-temperate waters (Ref. 96888). Subfamily Apogoninae Günther 1859 is known from the eastern Pacific, Atlantic basin and the Indo-Pacific; distribution is complete in the tropics and subtropical coastal zones down to nearly 300 meters; Tribes: Apogonichthyini Snodgrass & Heller 1905, Apogonini Günther 1859, Archamiini Fraser & Mabuchi 2014, Cheilodipterini Bleeker 1856, Glossamiini Fraser & Mabuchi 2014, Gymnapogonini Whitley 1941, Lepidamiini Fraser & Mabuchi 2014, Ostorhinchini Whitley 1959, Pristiapogonini Fraser & Mabuchi 2014, Rhabdamiini Fraser & Mabuchi 2014, Siphamiini Smith 1955, Sphaeramiini Fraser & Mabuchi 2014, Veruluxini Fraser & Mabuchi 2014, Zoramiini Fraser & Mabuchi 2014 (Ref. 96888). Subfamily Paxtoninae Fraser & Mabuchi, 2014 is a monotypic subfamily known only from 6 specimens from northwestern Western Australia, collected by trawls in 40-80 m (Ref. 96888). Subfamily Pseudamiinae Smith 1954 is found along the continental coasts and islands of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Western Pacific out to Japan, Palmyra, Tahiti, Austral Islands and Australia; found in shallow water down to about 64 meters (Ref. 96888). Dorsal fins separate. First dorsal fin with 6-8 spines; 8-14 soft rays in the second. Spines in anal fin 2; soft rays 8-18. Scales usually ctenoid; several groups with cycloid scales (absent in Gymnapogon). Branchiostegal rays 7. Vertebrae 24 or 25 (10 + 14 or 15). Males are mouthbrooders. Most species nocturnal, feeding on zooplankton and small benthic invertebrates. Maximum length 20 cm; most species below 10 cm. They do generally well in aquariums.

  Etymology

Greek, a = without + Greek, pogon, barbed ( Ref. 45335).

  Reproductive guild

bearers

  Typical activity level

normal

  Main Ref

Nelson, J.S. 1994

  Coordinator

  Deep Fin Classification

Osteichthyes | Actinopterygii | Actinopteri | Neopterygii | Teleostei | Osteoglossocephalai | Clupeocephala | Euteleosteomorpha | Neoteleostei | Eurypterygia | Ctenosquamata | Acanthomorphata | Euacanthomorphacea | Percomorphaceae | Gobiomorpharia | Kurtiformes | Apogonoidei | Apogonidae